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Counter-Trafficking NGO Coalition Members Receive Advanced Social Work Certification

14 April 2014

Almost 30 representatives of non-governmental organizations united under the umbrella of the All-Ukrainian Counter-Trafficking NGO Coalition participated in a six-day career enhancement training on vulnerable families’ and individuals’ social case management last week.

The training was arranged at the Postgraduate Studies Institute of Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University. Prominent social work theorists and practitioners were invited as tutors: lecturers of Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University and Kyiv Mohyla Academy, specialists of the Kyiv Social Services Centre for Families, Children and Youth, and experts of HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) Ukraine. All the participants successfully passed the final exam and received state career advancement certificates.

The training participants analysed their experience in identifying vulnerable families and individuals, assessing their needs and managing their cases, and improved their knowledge of the relevant Ukrainian legislation. In the future, this will ease cooperation with the state authorities to help victims of trafficking. The goal is not solely to strengthen case-by-case cooperation between the NGOs and state social services, but to analyse counter-trafficking in Ukraine through a rights-based prism, and to develop effective trafficking prevention and social rehabilitation measures for victims. These steps should facilitate the creation of a comprehensive, state-coordinated National Referral Mechanism for assisting victims of trafficking in Ukraine.

The training was arranged upon the All-Ukrainian Counter-Trafficking NGO Coalition’s initiative with IOM’s assistance and the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).